SSC 012 - Principles of Soil Science

Principles of Soil Science (SSC 112)

Syllabus Fall 2011

Instructor:

Steve Broome
Room: 3214 Williams Hall
Office hours: By Appointment
Telephone: 919-513-2555
E-mail: stephen_broome@ncsu.edu
Lecture: MWF 8:05-8:55 Room 2215 Williams Hall

Laboratory Instructors:

Josh Edgell
Room: 3127 Williams Hall
Office Phone:
Email: jledgell@ncsu.edu

Laboratory:

2417 Williams Hall. The laboratory will provide hands-on experience in a variety of soil analytical skills and illustrate soil science concepts.

Lab Section	Day	Time
201	Monday	1:30 - 3:20
202	Monday	3:35 - 5:25
203	Tuesday	8:05 - 9:55
204	Tuesday	1:30 - 3:20
205	Tuesday	3:35 - 5:25

Required Textbooks: Soil Science and Management by Edward J. Plaster. 5^th Edition. Delmar Publishers. ($165.35 new, $124.65 used)

To save money, the 4^thedition could also be used. You may be able to find it at on-line booksellers for a few dollars or even less.

Learning Outcomes: Students who successfully complete this course will be able to:

Recall and define the basic terms used for the description, study, and management of soils.

2. Describe the soil forming factors and the effect of each factor on soil development.

Identify and describe soil physical properties such as texture, structure, and color.
Explain how soil physical, chemical, and biological properties and processes affect agricultural and nonagricultural land use and management.
Explain the importance of maintaining proper soil pH and levels of essential nutrients for optimum plant growth.
Summarize the ecological functions of soil and explain the role of soil management in maintaining and improving environmental quality.

Grades:

Course grades will be determined as follows:
4 one- hour lecture exams - 60%
Lab exercises, homework and quiz grades - 20%
Final Exam - 20%

Grading Scale:

A+	97 - 100	B+	87 - 89	C+	77 - 79	D+	67- 69	F	< 60
A	94 - 96	B	84 - 86	C	74 - 76	D	64 - 66
A-	90 - 93	B-	80 - 83	C-	70 - 73	D-	60 - 63

Exams will be multiple choice and short answer.
Make-up exams will not be allowed unless you have an excused absence.

Academic Integrity:

The instructor will uphold the Code of Student Conduct, and the University's policies on Academic Integrity. He expects that students have read and understand the "Code", particularly the definitions and examples of cheating, plagiarizing, and aiding and abetting others to cheat or plagiarize. Students caught cheating on exams or plagiarizing will receive a zero for that portion of the course. University procedures for reporting cheating will be followed.

Students with Disabilities:

Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990 mandate that the faculty provide reasonable accommodations to students with disabilities. These accommodations are based on the premise that students with disabilities need an equal opportunity to acquire information and demonstrate what they have learned; not have an advantage over others in the class. This does not mean lowering class standards, but it may mean having students learn and express knowledge in a different mode. All students registered with the NC State Office of Disability Services for Students (DSS) will provide the instructor with an accommodation letter. This letter verifies that appropriate medical documentation is on file and that the student has a substantiated disability requiring effective reasonable accommodations. Accommodations for which the student qualifies will also be included in the letter. If you have not registered with the DSS and have a learning disability, you should register in Suite 1900, Student Health Center. If you have a documented disability, please schedule an appointment with the course instructor to discuss academic accommodations.

Conduct:

You are expected to conduct yourself in a mature manner that is considerate and respectful of your classmates, the instructor, and yourself to insure an atmosphere that is conducive to learning. Any person who disrupts class or lab will be asked to leave.

Please be attentive to the class or lab activity and refrain from talking at inappropriate times, reading newspapers, studying other courses, sleeping etc.

Developing a sense of personal responsibility, self discipline, and pride in your work is an important part of education.

Attendance:

You are expected to attend class and Lab. Attendance will be recorded and considered in assigning a letter grade. Be on time. Arriving late disrupts class and is inconsiderate of other students.

Field Trip Policy:

The College of Agriculture and Life Sciences will provide transportation for field trips. The University assumes no responsibility when Students provide for their own transportation.

Class Evaluation:

Schedule: Online class evaluations will be available for students to complete during the last two weeks of class(November 26-December 9). Students will receive an email message directing them to a website where they can login using their Unity ID and complete evaluations. All evaluations are confidential; instructors will never know how any one student responded to any question, and students will never know the ratings for any particular instructors.

Evaluation website: https://classeval.ncsu.edu
Student help desk: classeval@ncsu.edu
More information about ClassEval: http://www2.acs.ncsu.edu/UPA/classeval/index.htm

Course Outline, Fall 2011
Topic:

1.The Importance of Soils (August 17, 19) Text reading: pp. 1-22

1. Man's dependence on Soils for Urban, Agricultural and Recreational uses

2. Soil Management

3. What is a Soil?

1. Soil definition

2. Terminology used in describing soils

3. Profile variability

4. Topsoil vs. Subsoil

5. Components of soils

2. Factors of Soil Formation (August 22, 24, 26) Text reading: pp.23-44

1. Parent material, climate, relief, vegetation, and time

2. Weathering as a process of soil formation

3. Physiographic regions of North Carolina and soils encountered in these regions

3. Soil Classification and Survey (August 29, 31) Text reading: pp. 45-63

1. Soil classes- Order, Suborder, Great Group, Subgroup, Family, Series

2. Soil surveys, Reports and Mapping Units

Labor Day September 5

4. Soil Physical Properties (September 7, 9, 12 , 14, 16) Text reading: pp.64-96

1. Soil texture

2. Soil structure

3. Soil color

4. Soil permeability

5. Bulk density

Review September 19
Test 1, September 21

5. Soil Water (September 23,26) Text reading: pp. 142-164

1. Types of Soil water

2. Soil moisture tension as related to soil water types

3. Moisture constants (saturation, field capacity, wilt point, hygroscopic coefficient)

4. Soil moisture equations and calculations

5. Availability of water to plants

6. Factors affecting water holding capacity of soils - (texture, consistence, structure, organic matter)

7. Soil water movement

6. Hydrologic Cycle and Water Conservation, Drainage and Irrigation, Wetlands (Sept. 28, 30) Text reading: pp.165-205

1. Definition of hydrologic cycle

2. Infiltration and Runoff

3. Water tables

4. Groundwater movement

5. Irrigation and Drainage

6. Wetland Soils

Review October 3
Test 2, October 5
Fall Break October 6 and 7

7. Soil chemical properties (October 10,12,14) Text reading: pp. 206-225

1. Soil colloids - organic versus inorganic, kind of clay, nature of clays (structure, negative charges, relationship to cation exchange)

2. Cation exchange

3. Cation exchange capacity (CEC)

4. Factors affecting CEC

8. Soil Acidity and Liming (October 17, 19, 21, 24) Text reading: pp. 226-258

1. Definition and expression of soil acidity

2. Sources of Soil Acidity

3. Types of Soil acidity (active versus exchangeable)

4. Percent base saturation concept

5. Soil acidity and Soil management

6. Reasons soils become acid

7. Chemical reactions of lime in soil

8. Factors affecting lime reaction in soil

9. Liming materials

10. Soil salinity

Review October 26
Test 3, October 28

9. Soil organisms and organic matter (October 31, Nov. 2,4) Text reading: pp. 97-141

1. Soil Organisms (types, functions, processes such as nitrification, ammonification, N-fixation)

2. Organic matter (definition, composition of plants, decomposition)

3. C:N ratio of materials returned to soil

4. Compost

10. Plant growth and Nutrients (November 7, 9, 11 ) Text reading: pp. 259-283

1. Elements essential for plant growth

2. Forms of nutrients taken-up by plants

3. Absorption of nutrients by plants

4. Sources of nutrients in soils (organic matter and soil minerals)

11. Fertilizers (November 14,16) Text reading: pp. 299-324

1. Terminology

2. N, P, & K fertilizers, secondary, and micronutrients

3. Fertilizer calculations

Review, November 18
Test 4, November 21

Thanksgiving Holiday (November 23, 24, 25)

12. Organic amendments (November 28) Text reading: pp. 325-344

1. Animal waste

2. Compost

3. Environmental considerations

13. Soil Conservation (November 28, Dec 2) Text reading: pp. 383-413

1. Soil Erosion

2. Erosion Control measures

3. Pollution and Waste Management

Last day of class, December 4, Review

FINAL EXAM, Wednesday December 14, 2011, 8-11 a.m.

Lab Schedule (2417 Williams Hall)

1	August 22-23	Lab safety policy & Introduction to soil profile descriptions (lab 1)
2	Aug 29 - Aug 30	Soil Parent Material: Rocks and Minerals (lab 2)
3	September 12-13	Soil texture (lab 3)
4	September 19-20	Soil Structure and other Physical Properties (lab 4)
5	September 26-27	Soil moisture retention and moisture calculations lab (lab 5)
6	October 3-4	Soil profile descriptions (6)
7	October 10-11	Waste treatment septic systems (lab 7)
8	October 17-18	County Soil Survey Reports (lab 8)
9	October 24-25	Soil Acidity and Liming (lab 9)
10	Oct. 31- Nov. 1	Soil Sampling and NCDA Soil Testing Lab Tour (lab 10)
11	November 7-8	Interpreting Soil Test Reports (lab 11)
12	November 14-15	Plant nutrient deficiency symptoms (lab 12)

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